Childbirth Induced Posttraumatic Stress Syndrome: A Systematic Review of Prevalence and Risk Factors

• Published in: Frontiers in psychology Vol. 8; p. 560
• Main Authors: Dekel, Sharon, Stuebe, Caren, Dishy, Gabriella
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland Frontiers Media S.A 11.04.2017
• Subjects: Psychology; delivery; posttraumatic stress; postpartum PTSD; psychopathology; childbirth; obstetrics; systematic review; resilience
• ISSN: 1664-1078; 1664-1078
• DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2017.00560

Posttraumatic stress related with the childbirth experience of full-term delivery with health outcomes has been recently documented in a growing body of studies. The magnitude of this condition and the factors that might put a woman at risk for developing childbirth-related postpartum posttraumatic stress disorder (PP-PTSD) symptoms are not fully understood. In this systematic review of 36 articles representing quantitative studies of primarily community samples, we set to examine PP-PTSD prevalence rates and associated predictors with a focus on the role of prior PTSD and time since childbirth. A significant minority of women endorsed PP-PTSD following successful birth. Acute PP-PTSD rates were between 4.6 and 6.3%, and endorsement of clinically significant PP-PTSD symptoms was identified in up to 16.8% of women in community samples of high quality studies. Negative subjective experience of childbirth emerged as the most important predictor. Endorsement of PTSD before childbirth contributed to PP-PTSD; nevertheless, women without PTSD also exhibited PP-PTSD, with acute rates at 4.6%, signifying a new PTSD onset in the postpartum period. Although the majority of women cope well, childbirth for some can be perceived as a highly stressful experience and even result in the development of PP-PTSD symptoms. More research is needed to understand postpartum adaption and childbirth-related posttraumatic stress outcomes.